Knowledge regarding prevention of hypothermia in newborns among mothers in Northern India

Abstract

Background: Neonatal hypothermia is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for newborn survival. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends maintaining a warm chain and skin-to-skin care for thermo-protection of newborn children. Since little is known about practices related to newborn hypothermia, this study’s goal was to assess the knowledge of mothers of newborns especially LBW babies on prevention of hypothermia and to provide them the knowledge of cost-effective thermal protection measures.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study using pre-tested, pre-structured questionnaire. 108 postnatal mothers having LBW babies admitted in postnatal wards of Government Medical College, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India were included in the study and analysed using SPSS version 20.Results: Out of 108 mothers, maximum mothers were of age less than 25 years (51%), 60% were from rural area, residing in nuclear family were 62%. Mothers attended hospital for confinement were 95% and 85% started breast feeding their babies. 45% had knowledge of keeping the baby warm by immediately wiping the baby and only 3% mothers had knowledge of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC).Conclusions: Understanding and addressing community-based practices on hypothermia, prevention and management might help to improve newborn survival in resource-limited settings. Possible interventions include the implementation of skin-to-skin care in rural areas and the use of appropriate, low-cost newborn warmers to prevent hypothermia and support families in their provision of newborn thermal protection. Training family members to support mothers in the provision of thermo-protection for their newborns could facilitate these practices. Those who fail to fully attend antenatal clinics should be targeted for newborn care education.

New-born Thermal Care in Western Uttar Pradesh – Gap Analysis Between Knowledge and Practices

“…45% mothers knew that not wiping the baby or not drying after birth may cause hypothermia. Only 54% mothers had knowledge of covering the baby with warm blanket or clothes in multiple layers to prevent heat loss [20]. Similar ndings were reported in study from Dhaka, Bangladesh explained that babies were typically bathed soon after birth to purify them from the birthing process [21].…”

“…Higher educational status may be associated with increased level of awareness regarding good practices of thermal protection. Also it is also possible that mothers with higher education and those may be able to resist harmful cultural practices with respect to thermal protection prevalent in the community [31]. Increasing age is likely to be associated with higher parity, which may be associated with more exposure to thermal protection knowledge and make the practices better during previous pregnancies and childbirth episodes.…”

Neonatal Hypothermia: Mothers’ Knowledge and Practice at a Provincial Hospital in Rwanda

“…[4] Although current data are not available, several studies highlight the importance of the burden of neonatal hypothermia in both resources poor and resource-rich settings and across all climates. [1,2,5,6] Moreover all neonates are prone to hypothermia due to immaturity of thermoregulation center. [5] Mothers play a significant role in newborns' life and their level of knowledge would help the neonate to survive from dangerous conditions, notably hypothermia.…”

“…[1,2,5,6] Moreover all neonates are prone to hypothermia due to immaturity of thermoregulation center. [5] Mothers play a significant role in newborns' life and their level of knowledge would help the neonate to survive from dangerous conditions, notably hypothermia. [7] Therefore, mothers or other close caregivers of neonates must be knowledgeable about thermal care such as skin-to-skin contact (SSC), delaying bath and breastfeeding.…”

“…[7] Therefore, mothers or other close caregivers of neonates must be knowledgeable about thermal care such as skin-to-skin contact (SSC), delaying bath and breastfeeding. [5] Neonatal hypothermia is characterized by clinical features owing to environmental, physiological factors, or metabolic changes affecting all vital systems. Hence a hypothermic baby appears lethargic with poor feeding, cold extremities, and bradycardia with respiratory distress and tachypnea ensue.…”